Pages: 52 - 56
Article topics: Decontamination, Infection prevention and control, Standard precautions, Sterilisation
Minor surgical procedures are carried out routinely in many practices in the UK and while there is a low risk of infection as a result of these procedures, this risk is not completely absent. General practice nurses (GPNs) are often those who take responsibility for infection prevention and control (IPC), including decontamination, within the practice and this may also be the case in relation to minor surgery. Nurses need to ensure that they are competent in all related procedures to minimise the risk of infection as far as possible. This article considers the different elements that need to be in place at different stages of the process, including prior, during and after the procedure, including any reprocessing of instruments used.
